NEWS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD COMMUNITY COALITION

Many students don’t feel seen and heard, even more so since the pandemic. They are feeling like adults don’t understand what they went through.

We’re noticing, too, that students are still trying to catch up and feel that there is an overall developmental delay best described by one of our teens as, “Being in 12th grade but feeling like I am still in the 10th.”

Regardless of what grade they are in, many students experience anxiety and stress about moving to that next level The frustrating part for them is when well-meaning adults dismiss their anxiety and stress as no big deal, forgetting that these students have never been this age or stage before so everything is new and can be a big deal.

Besides the loss of time, students feel the sense of community and connections have not recovered while their desire for these connections has increased. To mitigate this, students need a safe place to connect and share their feelings with each other, a role that the Mid Action Board and Youth Action Board (YAB) groups provide

In our June e-news featuring our graduating YAB seniors, the first thing each student mentioned, when asked about their lasting impressions from YAB, was the safe space, like-minded peers, and feeling supported.

It’s really important to be aware and open to students who may be struggling as they may not be showing it Try to approach them with love in your heart and a desire to understand their feelings and viewpoint without judgment.

Learn more about the Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition at www.BBcoalition.org.